"Blessed Are The Merciful, For They Shall Obtain Mercy"
by Reverend Presbyter Demetrios Serfes
Boise, Idaho
June 1 2001

Icon Of "Lord Save Me"

Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

This is one of the nine Beatitudes, instructed to us by Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Actually in looking deep into our own spiritual lives, one must truly ask the question how merciful are we towards others, and how do we earnestly with great Christian love apply this mercy?

The merciful are those who have compassion on others, have we really been compassionate towards one another or are these just words? Usually spiritually speaking a true God loving Christian is one who with all their hearts pity those who have fallen into misfortune or unhappiness, and who try to help them with good works.

Works of mercy for every Christian are both physical and spiritual, as well as given of ones talents. We must also never forget that a Christian truly becomes well satisfied spiritually when we give our great love to others who need us in our support.

Let me humbly now ask what kind of bodily works of mercy are we now doing and act upon as true Christians?

1. Do you feed the hungry, or do you tell them to get a job?

2. Do you give someone a drink who is thirsty, or do we give them vinegar?

3. Do you clothe those who need clothes, or do you share what you can give?

4. Do you ever visit anyone in prison, or did you say they should stay in prison and suffer?

5. Do you ever visit the sick and helping them recover, or even help them prepare themselves for their own Christian death?

6. Do you invite strangers and foreigners and travelers into your house, or do you look through the peep hole and tell them to go away, I can't help you?

7. Do you assist your Church in singing in the choir or help the priest in buying the dead or the repose in the Lord?

Let us all indeed be ever so merciful, as Our Father Who is also is so merciful unto us all!
Please read from Holy Scripture: Matt. 5:3-12; Eph. 2:4-7; Titus 3:4-7.

Remember this most frequent prayer in the Holy Orthodox Church: Lord, have mercy!

May the mercy and love of Our Lord God be with you always!

Humbly In Christ Our Lord,
+Reverend Presbyter Demetrios Serfes
Who prays for you and for you!
June 2001